Financial Release

Starbucks Invites Customers to D-I-S-C-O-V-E-R the Inspiring Film ''Akeelah and the Bee'' Through a Breakthrough Promotion

Unique, Experiential Promotion Designed to Enhance the Starbucks Experience and Broaden Film's Reach by Introducing it to Millions More Movie-goers

SEATTLE, Apr 04, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Beginning today, the millions of customers at Starbucks (NASDAQ:
SBUX) nearly 8,300 locations in the U.S. and Canada will have the
unique opportunity to discover Akeelah and the Bee, an inspirational
new film co-presented by Lionsgate (NYSE and TSX: LGF), the leading
independent filmed entertainment studio, 2929 Entertainment and
Starbucks Entertainment. Through a fun, innovative and unprecedented
experiential marketing campaign, Starbucks will provide customers the
opportunity to interact with key aspects of the story.

In theaters beginning April 28, Akeelah and the Bee is the
inspirational story of a precocious 11-year-old girl (Keke Palmer)
with a gift for spelling. Despite objections from her mother (Angela
Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is
tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) and the
proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude wins her a
spot in the national spelling bee, and her determination instills all
those who help her with a sense of community pride as they witness the
courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

Starbucks in-house creative team designed a multi-dimensional
marketing promotion that is tastefully integrated into the classic
Starbucks Experience to subtly and powerfully pique customer
curiosity. Rather than featuring the standard movie poster used in
more traditional promotional campaigns, the Starbucks campaign builds
on the movie's theme of the power of words by leveraging unique
in-store placements and techniques that have not been implemented
before. Customers will be invited to step inside Akeelah's journey as
part of their daily coffee routine. The campaign will drive buzz and
challenge customers to expand their vocabulary and spelling prowess
with difficult-to-spell and exotic words printed on a wide variety of
collateral such as flash cards, magnets, in-store signage, coasters,
and cup sleeves. In addition, beginning April 17, travel-sized
SCRABBLE(R) will be sold in all Starbucks locations in the U.S. and
Canada, further supporting the central theme of the campaign:
"Changing the World One Word at a Time."

"We've experienced great success with the music we offer in our
stores, and we recognized that we had an opportunity to extend the
trust our customers have in the Starbucks brand to bring them other
forms of entertainment," said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman. "As
a result of that, we've been looking for more than a year to find a
great story that would bring a sense of discovery to our customers,
and when we saw Akeelah and the Bee, we immediately realized that it
was the perfect choice. The film's inspirational message about a
community coming together to support one of its own is emblematic of
what Starbucks stands for."

"We could not have found a better partner to help bring this film
to the public in such a unique and creative way," said Jon Feltheimer,
chief executive officer of Lionsgate. "Starbucks brings communities
together every day just as Akeelah brings her community together. With
strong trust from its vast customer base and its proven track record
of word-of-mouth marketing, Starbucks is in a unique position to help
millions of customers learn about a new film to which they might not
have otherwise been exposed."

Adding to Starbucks initial love of the film and its support for
community was its strong education message and its historic support of
literacy programs. Starbucks support of Akeelah and the Bee adds
momentum to those efforts as viewers witness Akeelah's dedication and
persistence as she powers through spelling tough words such as
"pulchritude," "elucubrate," "prospicience" and "prestidigitation."

"Our goal with entertainment is always to enhance the Starbucks
Experience. Partnering with an innovative company like Lionsgate to
present Akeelah and the Bee enables us to do that," added Ken Lombard,
president, Starbucks Entertainment. "This unique promotion introduces
this uplifting film in a way no other company can. We are excited
about extending our powerful marketing and distribution reach to the
movie industry and feel very confident that our customers will
appreciate the recommendation."

The Akeelah and the Bee soundtrack is available starting today and
features The Jackson Five, The Spinners, Harold Melvin and the Blue
Notes, Al Green, The Brothers Johnson and Aretha Franklin. The first
singles off the soundtrack are "Proud" from Heather Small, and Keke
Palmer's debut single "All My Girlz." The album is available at
Starbucks Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada as well as
traditional music retail outlets and is the first official motion
picture soundtrack that Starbucks has ever carried.

One of the most important aspects of the Starbucks Experience is
the trusted relationship customers have with their baristas. Before
the movie opens on April 28, Starbucks will host advance screenings
for partners (employees) in select cities (40 cities total). Baristas
are not scripted, and if they are asked by customers, are encouraged
to share their recommendations based on their own personal experience
with the film.

Additionally, Starbucks will offer customers complimentary
multimedia content via the T-Mobile HotSpot network, the largest
footprint of internet hotspots in the world. From the welcome page of
the T-Mobile HotSpot network, customers will be able to access the
movie trailer, a clip from the "I Want to Win The National Spelling
Bee" scene in the film, links to the Akeelah and the Bee web page on
Starbucks.com, and links to music from the movie on the Starbucks Hear
Music homepage. Starbucks will also utilize its relationship with XM
Satellite Radio to offer special programming on Hear Music(TM) Channel
75 on XM Satellite Radio. The DVD will be released in U.S.
Company-operated locations simultaneous with its national release date
at traditional retail.

Starbucks Coffee Company launched Starbucks Entertainment in 2004
to help customers discover quality entertainment options as part of
their daily coffee routines. Starbucks Coffee Company first acquired
Hear Music in 1999 to become Starbucks Hear Music, the sound of music
at Starbucks. Starbucks Hear Music has made a transformative impact on
the music industry by providing a new and convenient way for consumers
to discover, experience and acquire all genres of great music through
its Hear Music(TM) CD compilations, its innovative partnerships with
other music labels to co-release, market and distribute both exclusive
and non-exclusive music, its 24-hour digital music channel on XM
Satellite Radio (XM Channel 75) and its breakthrough Starbucks Hear
Music(TM) Coffeehouses in Santa Monica, San Antonio and Miami.
Starbucks Hear Music CD selections can be purchased at Starbucks
retail locations around the world, as well as online at
www.starbucks.com/hearmusic. In 2006, Starbucks Entertainment extended
beyond music and announced a unique partnership with Lionsgate to
market and distribute the inspirational film "Akeelah and the Bee."
The company expects the film to be the first of many such partnerships
that help customers discover unique and rewarding entertainment.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio,
fresh off the number one box office hits Madea's Family Reunion,
Hostel, and Saw II and the Best Picture Academy Award(R) for Crash.
The Company has earned 25 Academy Award(R) nominations and seven
Oscar(R) wins in the past seven years, more than any other independent
studio. It is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures,
television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and
video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of more
than 5,000 titles is a valuable source of stable, recurring revenue
and is a foundation for growth of the Company's core businesses. The
Lionsgate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality
entertainment in markets around the globe. www.lgf.com